Organisers of this year’s Elevator Awards say they are off to a “flying start,” with a record number of companies submitting entries in the first week since their launch.
The awards, now in their 17th year, are the biggest celebration of the North-east’s achievements in business excellence, employers of choice, community-driven initiatives and outstanding achievements from local entrepreneurs.
Elevator chief executive Gary McEwan said the response to the launch showed the region was in a “strong position to embrace innovation and diversity, despite its recent change in fortune.”
Mr McEwan said: “The ongoing downturn in the oil and gas sector has seen a big increase in the number of entrepreneurs seeking new opportunities and capitalising on the wealth of experience and skills in the area.
“Over the past year in particular, we have seen the emergence of a large range of businesses started in the wake of redundancies, with many new business owners stating that ‘being their own boss’ is the most rewarding element.”
He added: “This region, time after time, proves itself to be one of the most entrepreneurial, with new businesses starting and thriving and existing businesses looking at new ways to support their clients and staff.
“With the doom and gloom associated with the current state of the oil and gas industry, and its associated economic instability, what better time to celebrate the business successes taking place in the region.”
The Royal Bank of Scotland has been the principal partner and sponsor of the awards since it started in 200.
Russell Whyte, director, corporate and commercial banking in Aberdeen, said: “It is important that we celebrate the talent, skill and diversity that exists here in the North-east. As a bank we celebrate our 290th anniversary and we are delighted that we mark it by continuing our long association with this event.”
Applications for the awards can be made online and are open until Friday, March 10. The awards ceremony will be held at the Mercure Aberdeen Ardoe House Hotel on June 29.
